Part 47 Gift

"Happy Birthday, Khushiji," Anjali said.

Everyone looked at Anjali with disbelief, including Khushi.

"Thank you Di..." Her eyes pooled up and it was obvious.

People could not believe Anjali wished Khushi on her birthday. Arnav and Akash were glad as their plan worked. They believed Anjali would not be firm if she understood the truth even though it was hard.

NK removed his mobile and checked the calendar.

"Oh, yes... how did I forget it's your birthday?" NK said feeling sad.

Arnav looked at Khushi and asked,

"Is it your birthday, today?"

"This is too bad, Nannav...you don't even know your wife's birthday..." NK countered.

Arnav looked at Khushi awkwardly.

"Happy birthday Khushiji" NK wished.

"Thank you Nanneji" Khushi said.

"Happy Birthday, Khushiji" Akash wished.

"Thank you, Jeejaji"

"Di, how do you know it's Khushi's birthday?" Arnav asked Anjali.

"Lavanya asked Khushi once. She told us and I noted it down" Anjali smiled.

"Oh..."

"I will prepare jalabe for you" Anjali added making people dumbfounded.

Khushi was also dumbfounded for another reason. She was planning to leave RM for a reason as she didn't want Raizadas to feel irritated because of her. She knew Arnav was not fine with her decision but she believed she could make him understand. But now, Anjali herself wished her and was ready to make jelabie for her birthday. She didn't know what to do because she didn't want to ignore Anjali's kindness. Yet, she didn't want Anjali to work in this condition.

"I'm going to Buaji's house, Di..." Khushi said hesitatingly.

"No problem... you can eat it in the evening" Anjali said making Khushi stuck.

"Won't you?" Anjali asked.

Arnav was looking at Khushi nervously as if, Khushi should not mess up when everything was falling at the right place. He knew Anjali purposely asked that to stop Khushi from staying at Buaji's house. Khushi nodded yes smilingly. Arnav and Akash huffed in relief. They smiled at each other because they saw relief in Anjali's face. They knew if Anjali didn't show bitterness to Khushi, no one from RM would do that.

After that, there were no talks in the dining. All of them were satisfied even though they had no idea about Anajli's state of mind.

After breakfast, Khushi went to the kitchen to keep the bowls back. Payal helped her.

"Chotte..." Anjali called him.

Everyone looked at her.

"Di?"

"Buy a good birthday gift for Khushiji..."

Arnav nodded ok smiling.

"Don't forget to WISH her" she hinted as she knew how GOOD he was in wishing others.

Arnav was stuck.

"It's not as hard as you think..." She smiled.

Arnav chuckled and others smiled. Anjali went to her room.

"I can't believe Anjali bitiya became normal..." Manorama said.

"I too can't believe this. I don't know how she became normal so quickly," Nani said.

"I thought she would not come out of the grief soon and would be crying," Manorama said feeling glad.

"Just because she is not crying, doesn't mean she is happy, Nani. Undoubtedly she is in grief. The wound in her heart is fresh... it will not heal easily because she faced betrayal. Don't we know how deeply and madly she loved that man? She shows herself normal because she doesn't want us to feel bad for her" Arnav said.

They nodded affirmatively.

"Just because Di is smiling, don't be careless. Keep an eye on her" Arnav asked them to be alerted and others agreed to it.

Arnav went to his room. He was not fine with Khushi's decision to go to GH but it was her birthday. She would like to get her parent's blessings. He didn't want to disappoint her for anything. So, he had to send her. No choice. Before that, he had to wish her. Of course, he never wished anyone for anything but he could not be like that today. It was his wife's birthday... the girl who didn't hesitate to go to any extent for him.

He saw Khushi entering the room. He smiled at her and she reciprocated to it.

"Why didn't you tell me this is your birthday, Khushi?"

"The situation is not good here, Arnavji... how could I tell you this is my birthday...?"

"You can tell me anything... especially if it is about your happiness. I'm your husband and ought to know your birthday"

Khushi was silent.

"By the way... ha..." Arnav tried to wish her.

Khushi nodded her head like, tell me.

"Is it necessary to go to Buaji's house?" He asked spilling an awkward smile.

She looked at him wondering.

"I mean... Di said she would make jalebies for you..."

"I will eat them after coming from GH," she said which made him relief.

That meant, she would not stay in GH but come back to RM that day itself.

"Will you come...?" he asked smiling.

Khushi nodded yes and said,

"How could I disappoint Di?"

Arnav nodded his head.

"Shall I go...?"

"I will drop you," Arnav said.

"That's ok, Arnavji... I will go"

"Khushi, I said, I will drop you..." his voice was firm.

She nodded ok and turned to leave. Arnav felt helpless for being useless to wish her. He made up himself, taking a deep breath.

"Khushi, Happy Birthday..." he said hurriedly not thinking much.

Khushi looked at him surprisingly with a bright smile, making him smile.

"I heard you won't wish anyone..." She felt delighted for being wished by him. After all, she knew he never wished anyone on their birthday.

"Anyone but YOU," he said making her smile wider.

"Thanks..."

"Khushi, what do you want from me as your birthday gift?" he wanted to know whether she liked anything.

"You are with me... it's enough for me, Arnavji" She smiled.

Arnav gulped down hard. He knew what she meant. She meant, he was the GIFT. It was he who should tell that.

"I would like to give you something, Khushi. You are my wife. You have all the right to ask me anything"

"That RIGHT is more than enough for me, Arnavji..."

Arnav became emotional. He knew how hard her life was with him before the kidnap. That was what made her highlight the RIGHT, he supposed. He took a step and came close to her. He touched her cheek his palm and pressed his lips on her forehead, closing his eyes. Khushi also closed her eyes feeling blessed.

"I'm sorry..." he said.

Khushi looked at him not understanding the reason for his sorry.

"I tortured you a lot..."

"Why are you talking about old matters now, Arnavji?"

"It might be old but true..."

"Is not what I see in front of my eyes now true?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"If your change is true, we don't have to look back. It's our bitter past. I don't want you to think about it, Arnavji. If we still live in the past, how can we understand the blessings that lie in front of us? Forget the past and accept the blessings, Arnavji"

"How could you take everything easily, Khushi?"

"We have to... because we can't change what's already happened. We should accept the reality that the past is a part of our life. I agree it was the hardest phase of our life but we have already crossed it. After crossing the phase only, we got a pleasant sight. Don't make it hard by thinking about the hard times Arnavji"

In no time, Arnav hugged Khushi, making her stun.

"Thank you for coming into my life, Khushi. I never have seen in the way you see life. You are absolutely right... your thinking, your decision, everything is right. If you hadn't tried to find me, having a grudge in your heart, I would have died by now. I'm not kind-hearted person like you but I will try to adopt what you say" he kissed her hair lovingly and then broke the hug.

Khushi smiled mildly.

"Let's go"

Khushi nodded and followed him.

Arnav took Khushi to GH. After dropping her, he said,

"I will pick you up in the evening,"

"No, Arnavji... I won't be here till evening. I will return back after a while"

Arnav thought for a while and got out of the car.

"Then, I will be with you. we will go to RM together" he said making her delight.

Guptas became happier to see their daughter with Damadji. They welcomed them gladly. Khushi got blessings from her parents and Buaji.

"Khushi, what gift Damadji gave you?" Buaji asked curiously.

Arnav was embarrassed as he had not thought of any gift yet. Of course, Anjali asked him to gift Khushi but he didn't know what to give. He asked Khushi but she was not ready to get anything from him.

Khushi saw him suffocating. She took lead and handled the situation.

"He ordered me a handbag, Buaji... they will deliver it soon"

Arnav looked at her thankfully not for saving him from her parents but for giving him a hint to buy a gift. He removed his phone and ordered a handback.

To be continued...